Garnering nearly one-billion monthly users, TikTok has become a household name for all things comedic, viral, and, most shockingly, political. That is right—TikTok is not all dancing. In fact, it has actually become a platform where young people with a plethora of political ideologies are able to come together and share information, campaign for a chosen candidate, or form communities around their party or beliefs.
What will go down as one of the most contentious political elections of our lifetime, the 2020 presidential election was beholden to this new form of political activism being done by individuals. Individuals who were not even employed by the campaigns. In the months leading up to the actual election, TikTok was flooded with efforts to mobilize the vote by the right and left. Scrolling through your “for-you” page was akin to watching a flurry of campaign ads, but with a youthful twist.
Prior to the election, the non-partisan digital production company Bigtent Creative paid small sums of money to “micro-influencers” on TikTok to get out the vote. This project has grown immensely since its inception in the summer, and is now moving towards “bringing new engagement to politics.” Because of the efforts of companies like Bigtent Creative and others, a record-breaking 159.8 million Americans voted in last year’s presidential election. According to Tufts University, 52%-55% of young people (under 30) voted in 2020.
However, the question still remains. What led to this tremendous voter turnout among Gen Z, and how does that correlate to the social media platform, TikTok? Growing up in the digital age, Gen Z is constantly flooded with information by the 24 hours news cycle, social media, and friends and family alike. Gen Z is also the most racially and ethnically diverse generation to date, and, with that, comes a never-ending flow of ideas and information.
TikTok’s political activism did not stop at the presidential election, however. The run-off Senate election in Georgia, which would determine the feasibility of the new administration’s agenda, saw young people creating “get out the vote” ads that were both non-partisan and partisan.
Regardless of political affiliation, seeing political activism and campaigns reach new horizons is a testament to our rapidly changing world. The idea of democracy and voting, the principles upon which America was founded, is a process that everyone must partake in regardless of their ideology. The ability to have a say in your country’s government is a luxury not afforded to many and is a responsibility that falls on each of us. As young people, it is imperative that respect and love for the system is cultivated. Only then is America strong. Feel implored to advocate in a non-partisan or partisan way, in whatever capacity you are able to. The very notion that political campaigning and activism can be done from the comfort of your room has opened up new avenues for politics and advocacy work in the future.
Written by: Cat Martinez
Cat Martinez is a writer based in Los Angeles. In her writing, she merges her passion for civics and writing to inspire others to get involved in their communities.
